Heat releasable device for hold open door closers



I Nov. 11, 1958 E. L. SCHLAGE HEAT RELEASABLE DEVICE FOR HOLD OPEN DOOR CLOSERS Filed Nov. 1. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ERNEST L. SCHLAGE ATTORNEYS Nov. 11, 1958 E. L. SCHLAGE 2,859,842

HEAT RELEASABLE DEVICE FOR HOLD OPEN DOOR CLQSERS Filed Nov. 1, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN TOR. ERNES 7' L. SCHLA 65 MM Wad ATTORNEYS Nov. 11, 1958 E. L. SCHLAGE 2,859,842

HEAT RELEASABLE DEVICE FOR HOLD OPEN DOOR CLOSERS Filed Nov. 1. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet s IN VEN TOR. ERNEST L. SCHLA as A T ToR/veys HEAT RELEASABIJE DEVECE FOR HOLD OPEN DOOR CLUSEIQS Ernest L. Schlage, Burlingarne, Caliii, assignor to Schlage Lock Company, a corporation Application November 1, 1954, Serial No. 466,020

4 Claims. (Cl. 189-49) This invention relates to hold open door closers and more particularly to a heat releasable connector for use with a hold open door closer.

This invention is herein described for use with a door closer having frictionally engageable surfaces for holding a :door open at a predetermined position against the closing action of the closer. Such a hold open mechanism is an important, conventional feature of .door closers, especially in public building installations.

In order to reduce fire hazard, however, provision must be made to activate such door closers, or release such hold open mechanisms, in the event of fire. Doors provided with hold open closers are often left unattended and the automatic closing of such doors in case of fire greatly deters the spreading of such fire.

Since door closers are normally placed at the upper 9 edge of door openings, an ideal location for the release device herein described is on the'door closer where the upper air, heated by the fire, immediately releases the holding action, thereby permitting operative movement of the door closer. release device be absolutely dependable after long periods of nonuse and not subject to fouling byrust, corrosion, and the like.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a heat releasable connector for hold open door closers.

It is another object of this invention to provide heat responsive means for releasing a hold open door closer in the event of fire.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a positive acting, dependable fusible link device for rendering 'a hold open mechanism inoperative to permit operative movement of the associated door closer.

A further object of this invention is the provision of heat releasable clamp means for connecting an auxiliary arm, held in a fixed relation to one of the operating arms of a door closer, to the other operating arm of said door closer.

It is a still further object of this inventionto provide a device for releasing a hold open door closer at a predetermined temperature, which device is so placed as to be immediately responsive to fire.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the arms of a door closer adjacent the elbow thereof showing the preferred form of the connector of this invention in an unreleased position mounted on said arms;

Fig. .2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 showing the preferred connector in the released .position, and showing its relation .to the door and door closer upon which it is mounted;

shown in Fig. 1;

It is also important that such a States atent ice Fig. 4 is a partly cross-sectional, partly side elevational view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line ,55 of Fig. 4; i

Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to Fig. l, but showing a modification of the device of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the modified device in the released position;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the modified form of device of Figs. 6, 7 shown in the unreleased position, the released position being shown in dot-dash lines;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, but showing another modification of the device of this invention; and,

Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the modified device of Fig. 9.

In detail, referring to Figs. 1 and ,2, the device of this invention is for use with a conventional door closer 1 (Fig. 2) which is shown mounted on a door 2 hingedly attached to a frame 3 in the customary manner. Connecting door closer 1 to frame 3 is a linkage comprising a pair of operating arms 4, 5 being pivotally connected at an elbow generally designated 6 (to be more fully described). Arm 4 may be rigid throughout its length and is provided with bosses 8, 9 for securing it to closer 1 and arm 5, respectively. Arm 5 is shown as being threadediy adjustable in length, is pivoted to eared boss N for connecting to arm 4 at elbow 6, and is pivotally connected to shoe 11 mounted on frame 3. i

In operation, from the position shown in Fig. 1, door closer 1 conventionally imparts a rotary motion to arm 4 which changes the relative angularity between arms .4, 5 thereby pulling door 2 closed into frame 3.

In order to provide a mechanism for holdingthe door open in a predetermined position against .the action of closer 1, auxiliary arm 12 is pivoted for vertical swinging about pin 13 (Fig. 4) to boss 14 which is pivoted for horizontal swinging to boss 9 at elbow .6 by arm bolt 15. It will be seen in Fig. 4 that boss 9 is threaded'to receive complementarily threaded armbolt 15, the upper end of which is formed-with flats 16 to be received in rectangular hole 17 formed in boss 14. The matching of flats 716 with hole 17 prevents rotation of bolt 15 with respect to boss 14.

It is therefore obvious that relative angular movement between operating arm 4 and auxiliary arm 12 causes boss 9 to travel axially on bolt 15. The hand .of the threads on the lower portion of bolt 15 is such that boss 9 moves upwardly toward boss 14 upon opening door 2 from frame 3, in which .closer 1 and arms 4, :5 are respectively secured. In order to provide for adjustment of the distance between upper surface 19 of boss '9 .and the lower surface 18 of boss 14, the latter isrecessed, .as at 20 to receive adjustment nut 21 threaded on theuppor end of bolt 15. Tightening nut 21 downwardly on said bolt causes surfaces 18, 19 tobe brought closer-together and restricts the angle through which arms 4 and 12 may swing before surface 19 travels upwardly into frictional engagement with surface 13. 1 j

The combination ofbosses 9 and 14, bolt 15, and-nut 21 providesa hold open mechanism which prevents relative angular movement between arms 4 and ll 2 when surfaces 18, 19 are'jammed together. Bolt 15 is also internally tapped as at 22 .to threadedly receive screw :23 which freely pivotally secures arm 5 to arms 4 and 12 by being inserted through boss 11). Boss 10 is then freely rotatable between washers 24 (inserted between boss 10 and nut 21) and the head of screw 23.

In order to transfer the holding action between arms 4 and 12 to arm 5, arm 12 is provided at its end remote designated 27, which engages arm 5 intermediate the ends of the latter. Clamp means 27 comprises a fixed, angle lever 28 (Figs. 3, 4) one leg 29 of which is secured at right angles to the outer end of auxiliary arm 12 as by cap screw 31. The other leg 30 of fixed lever 28 extends parallel to arm 12. Leg 29 is also provided with an outwardly opening notch 32 (Fig. 5) for engaging arm 5 thereby supporting arm 5 in a position generally parallel to auxiliary arm 12.

A catch 33 is provided at one end with a sleeve 34 (Fig. 3) for rotatably mounting said catch on arm 5 so that it extends at right angles to said arm. Leg 30 of fixed lever 28 is provided with an opening 35 therethrough, which opening is of sufficient vertical extent to pass the hook portion 36 of catch 33 (Fig. 5).

Hence, when hook 36 is passed through opening 35 to .the position shown in Fig. 5 it will retain operating arm 5 and auxiliary arm 12 in generally parallel relationship and thereby prevent relative angular movement between said arms. To insure that hook 36 remains engaged with the side of leg 30 opposite arm 5, a movable lever 37 is provided which is pivotally connected, as by pin 38, to fixed lever 28. One end 39 of said movable lever extends over the top of hook portion 36 and by rotating lever 37 to the full line .position shown in Fig. 4 such hook portion is prevented from disengaging fixed lever 28 (Fig. 5). In other words, end 39 of movable lever 37 restricts the vertical extent of opening 35 so that hook portion 36 may not be withdrawn therethrough. The other end 40 of movable lever 37 extends parallel to leg 38 of fixed lever 28 and each is provided with an outwardly opening notch 41 for receiving an edge of a conventionally apertured fusible link 42. It will be seen from Fig. 4 that link 42 prevents movable lever 37 from swinging in such a direction as to allow catch 33 to become unhooked from fixed lever 28.

Torsion spring 43 is provided surrounding pivot pin 38 and has leaves in engagement with leg 30 and end 40 respectively. Spring 43 thereby tends to rotate movable lever 37 to the dot-dash line position shown in Fig. 4 to permit unhooking of catch 33. When connector 47 is in 'the full line position shown in Figs. 4, 5, arms 5 and 12 are secured together against relative angular movement.

Hence, when surfaces 18, 19 are in tight frictional engagement, preventing angular movement between operating arm 4 and auxiliary arm 12, operating arm 5 cannot freely pivot about bolt 23 and therefore operative movement of door closer I is prevented. If, under such circumstances, fusible link 42 is raised to a predetermined temperature as by currents of warm air, said link is designed to fuse or melt thereby allowing spring 43 to rotate movable lever 37 to the dot-dash line position shown in Fig. 4. The operative force of door closer 1 is then applied to swing auxiliary arm 12 away from operating arm 5. This results in hook portion 36 of catch 33 being urged horizontally at a point below the center of arm 5 and forced clockwise to the dot-dash line position shown in Fig. 5 and thereby pass through opening 35. Such unhooking is permitted since end 39 of movable lever 37 has been rotated upwardly to the dot-dash line position shown in Figs. 4, 5 by torsion spring 43. Door closer I is then free to impart rotary motion to operating arms 4, 5 and swing the door closed to the position shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 illustrate a modified form of clamp means generally designated 47 which comprises a fixed lever 48 pivoted to a parallel movable lever 49 by means of pivot pin 50. Lever 48 is apertured as at 51 (Fig. 8) to receive cap screw 52 therethrough for the purpose of securing lever 48 perpendicular to the end of auxiliary arm 12. Lever 48 is also provided with outwardly opening notch 53 for the purpose of engaging and supporting arm 5 in a position generally parallel to auxiliary arm 12.

The end portion 54 of movable lever 49 adjacent operating arm 5 is in the form of a hook for engaging the 4 top and side of arm 5 opposite notch 53. Hence, when levers 48, 49 are in the position shown in Figs. 6, 8 hook portion 54 and notch 53 substantially encircle arm 5 thereby preventing relative angular movement between operating arm 5 and auxiliary arm 12.

In order to retain levers 48, 49 in such position, their ends remote from arms 5, 12 are provided with opposedly, outwardly opening notches 55 for receiving the edges of a conventional, apertured fusible link 56. Torsion spring 57 is mounted on pivot pin 50 and has a leaf in engagement with the inwardly directed edge of each lever 48, 49 for urging apart the ends of said levers remote from arms 5, 12.

Clamp means 47 is adapted for the same use as clamp means 27 in association with operating arms 4 and 5 meeting at elbow 6 and having hold open surfaces 18, 19 acting between operating arm 4 and auxiliary arm 12. When clamp means 47 is in the position shown in Fig. 6 engaging the hold open surfaces 18, 19 (previously described) prevents doorrcloser 1 from imparting operative, rotary movement to operating arms 4, 5 by connecting the latter to auxiliary arm 12. Upon a predetermined temperature being attained fusible link 56 parts allowing torsion spring 57 to swing movable lever 49 to the dotdash line position shown in Fig. 8 thereby unhooking end portion 54 of such lever from arm 5. The released position of clamp means 47 is shown in Fig. 7 which shows the relative position between operating arms 4, 5 and auxiliary arm 12 after the operation of closer I in closing the door.

A simplified modification of the connector of this invention is shown in Figs. 9, 10 in connection with the previously described door closer linkage including operating arms 4, 5, auxiliary arm 12, and elbow 6. This modified connector, generally designated 60, comprises a pair of similar, angle elements 61, 62 each of which is apertured as at 63, 64 to receive a cap screw (not shown) similar to screws 31, 52, and arm 5 respectively therethrough. In this manner elements 61, 62 are secured to auxiliary arm 12 and operating arm 5, respectively, with one leg 65, 66 of each of said elements in face to face engaging relationship between arm 5 and arm 12. Legs 65, 66 are apertured to receive low melting point or fusible rivets 67 therethrough for the purpose of securing elements 61, 62 together and thereby connecting arms 5 and 12 in generally parallel relation as previously described.

The material of which rivets 67 are formed is adapted to melt at a predetermined temperature, usually at F., as in the case of fusible links 42, 56. It is therefore obvious that connector 60 acts to transfer the holding action, incorporated in elbow 6, to operating arm 5 thereby preventing operative movement of the door closer when the arms are in the position shown in Fig. 9. Upon such predetermined temperature being reached, rivets 67 melt allowing elements 61, 62 to be parted thereby permitting operative movement of door closer I through arms 4, S as previously described.

Although this invention has been described and illustrated in detail, such is not to be taken as restrictive thereof since it is obvious that modifications could be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A heat releasable device for use with a door closer having a pair of operating arms, and a free pivot con necting said operating arms, comprising an auxiliary arm mounted for swinging about the axis of said pivot, said auxiliary arm and one of said operating arms having frictionally engageable surfaces for preventing relative movement therebetween when said surfaces are so engaged, a fixed lever secured to said auxiliary arm at a point spaced from said pivot, a movable lever centrally pivoted to said fixed lever, arm engaging means at one end of said levers operable by pivoting said movable lever in one direc tion for connecting said auxiliary arm to the other of said operating arms, and a link, yieldable at a predetermined temperature, connectiiig the other ends of said levers for preventing pivoting of said movable lever in the other direction, whereby, when said link yields under the influence of heat, said means disengages said other arm permitting operative movement of said operating arms.

2. A heat releasable device for use with a door closer having a pair of operating arms, and a free pivot connecting said operating arms, comprising an auxiliary arm mounted for swinging about the axis of said pivot, said auxiliary arm and one of said operating arms having frictionally engageable surfaces for preventing relative movement therebetween when said surfaces are so engaged, a fixed lever secured to said auxiliary arm at a point spaced from said pivot, a movable lever centrally pivoted to said fixed lever, arm engaging means at one end of said levers operable by pivoting said movable lever in one direction for connecting said auxiliary arm to the other of said operating arms, a link, yieldable at a predetermined temperature, connecting the other ends of said levers for preventing pivoting of said movable lever in the other direction, and a spring urging said movable lever in said other direction, whereby, when said link yields under the influence of heat, said means disengages said other arm permitting operative movement of said operating arms.

3. A heat releasable device for use with a door closer having a pair of operating arms, and a free pivot connecting said operating arms, comprising an auxiliary arm mounted for swinging about the axis of said pivot, said auxiliary arm and one of said operating arms having frictionally engageable surfaces for preventing relative movement therebetween when said surfaces are so engaged, a fixed lever secured to said auxiliary arm at a point spaced from said pivot, said fixed lever having a notch at one end thereof engageable by the other of said operating arms for supporting the latter generally parallel to said auxiliary arm and said fixed lever having an opening therethrough, a catch mounted on said other operating arm, extending through said opening, and having a. hook engaging the side of said fixed lever opposite said other operating arm for retaining said other operating arm in said notch, a movable lever centrally pivoted to said fixed lever and having one end extending alongside said opening for restricting the extent of said opening to prevent the withdrawal of said hook, a spring tending to pivot said movable lever in one direction for urging said one end of said movable lever away from said opening, and a fusible link, yieldable at a predetermined temperature, connecting the other ends of said levers for preventing pivoting of said-movable lever in said one direction.

4. A heat releasable device for use with a door closer having a pair of operating arms, and a free pivot connecting said operating arms, comprising an auxiliary arm mounted for swinging about the axis of said pivot, said auxiliary arm and one of said operating arms having frictionally engageable surfaces for preventing relative movement therebetween when said surfaces are so engaged,

a fixed lever secured to said auxiliary arm at a point spaced from said pivot, said fixed lever having a notch at one end thereof engageable by the other of said operating arms for supporting the latter generally parallel to said auxiliary arm, a movable lever centrally pivoted to said fixed lever and having one end portion engageable with said other operating arm for retaining the latter in said notch, a spring tending to pivot said movable lever in one direction for urging said one end portion away from said notch, and a fusible link, yieldable at a predetermined temperature, connecting the other ends of said levers for preventing pivoting of said movable lever in said one direction.

Lasier Dec. 15, 1931 Lasier Dec. 5, 1939 

